This study deals with approaches for a social-ecological friendly European bioeconomy based on biomass from industrial crops cultivated on marginal agricultural land. The selected crops to be investigated are: Biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus, pennycress, poplar, reed canary grass, safflower, Siberian elm, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, wild sugarcane, and willow. The research question focused on the overall crop growth suitability under low-input management. The study assessed: (i) How the growth suitability of industrial crops can be defined under the given natural constraints of European marginal agricultural lands; and (ii) which agricultural practices are required for marginal agricultural land low-input systems (MALLIS). For the growth-suitability analysis, available thresholds and growth requirements of the selected industrial crops were defined. The marginal agricultural land was categorized according to the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) concept in combination with the marginality constraints, so-called ‘marginal agro-ecological zones’ (M-AEZ). It was found that both large marginal agricultural areas and numerous agricultural practices are available for industrial crop cultivation on European marginal agricultural lands. These results help to further describe the suitability of industrial crops for the development of social-ecologically friendly MALLIS in Europe.

Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) is considered a relatively new oilseed Brassica in both Europe and North America, even though its history as a crop dates back to the Bronze Age. Camelina has recently received renewed interest from both the scientific community and bio-based industries around the world. The main attractive features of this species are: drought and frost tolerance, disease and pest resistance, a unique seed oil composition with high levels of n-3 fatty acids, a considerably high seed oil content, and satisfactory seed yields, in particular under low-input management and in limiting environments. Aiming at evaluating the feasible introduction of recently released camelina breeding lines under different environmental conditions and their productive potential a multi-location trial was set up. The agronomic performance of nine improved genotypes of camelina was evaluated in a wide range of environments in Europe (Greece, Italy, Poland) and in five locations across Canada, in two consecutive growing seasons (2015 and 2016). Sowing time was optimized for each location according to the different climatic conditions. Camelina proved to be a highly adaptable species, reaching seed yields of about 1 Mg DM ha −1 under the most limiting conditions (i.e., low precipitation, poor soil quality, extremely high temperature at flowering). Growing environments characterized by mild temperatures and adequate rainfall (>170 mm, during the growing season) resulted in higher average seed yields. The length of the growing cycle varied greatly between different locations (80-110 d), but the cumulative thermal time was quite stable (∼1200 GDD, growing degree days). The advanced breeding line 787-08, which possesses up to 30% larger seed compared to the mean seed size of all other test entries, proved to be the most promising genotype across all locations in Europe and Canada, combining high seed yields (1.1-2.7 Mg DM ha −1) with improved yield stability. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, lines with improved oil composition (i.e., increased oleic and α-linolenic and lower linoleic acid contents) for feed, food and industrial applications were identified (789-02 and 887).

The recent policies enacted by the EU foresee an increased interest in the cultivation of energy crops.Hence systematized information on new energy crops and cropping strategies is necessary to optimize their production quantitatively and qualitatively and to integrate them into traditional production systems. This kind of information will offer farmers new perspectives and options to diversify their farming activities. Some of these crops, however, may compete for land and resources with existing food crops, while others could be grown in marginal/degraded lands with consequent benefi cial effects on the environment. Therefore choosing the appropriate management components and species should be site specifi c and oriented to minimize inputs and maximize yields. In some cases, traditional food crops are used as dedicated energy crops with the advantage that their management practices are well known. On the other hand, the management of new dedicated energy crops, such as perennial herbaceous crops, often demands a range of structural features and tactical management approaches that are different to those commonly used for traditional food crops. Most of these crops are largely undomesticated and are at their early stages of development and improvement. In this work, state-of-the-art research and development of agronomic management and the production of a wide range of multipurpose future energy crop species are reviewed and where possible examples of appropriate crop management practices that would enhance energy yields are provided. Interesting lines of investigation are also suggested. W Zegada-Lizarazu et al. Review: Agronomy of energy crops W Zegada-Lizarazu et al. Review: Agronomy of energy crops 14:549-563. (2005). 63. Mücher CA, Bunce RGH, Jongman RHG, Klijn JA, Koomen A, Metzger MJ et al., Identifi cation and characterisation of environments and landscapes in Europe. Alterra Rapport 832, Alterra, Wageningen (2003).

Uncertainty in predictions of long-term yields of perennial grasses makes business plans untenable 21 in the short run. Long-term data across varied environments, including marginal lands, will help in 22 preventing uncertainty while providing farmers and entrepreneurs with sound information to 23 estimate reliable and affordable strategies on what, where and how long to grow perennial grasses. 24 In the present study, the long-term yields (11 to 22 years) of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), 25 miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter) and giant reed (Arundo donax L.) grown in 26 northern and southern Mediterranean environments are reported. Switchgrass was grown in Greece 27 and northern Italy, giant reed in southern and northern Italy, and miscanthus in southern Italy. 28 Furthermore, lowland and upland switchgrass ecotypes were compared in Greece. Despite similar 29 biomass productions (9.8 and 10.0 Mg DM ha -1 for uplands and lowlands, respectively), the upland 30 ecotypes showed a significantly higher yield stability (CV of 24% and 32% for uplands and 31 lowlands, respectively) over a 17-year period. Biomass yield varied considerably across years and 32 locations; giant reed outperformed switchgrass under northern Italy environment (21.2 and 13.6 Mg 33 DM ha -1 for giant reed and switchgrass respectively). Annual yield of switchgrass was 30% higher 34 in the north than south Mediterranean; miscanthus showed intermediate production compared to 35 giant reed and switchgrass (average of 22 years) and a CV similar to switchgrass. In summary these 36 results evidence that multi-location, long-term trials are strongly needed to reduce uncertainties on 37 crop yield variability and provide more accurate data from which optimized socio-economic and 38 environmental predictions can be achieved.

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